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As the days get shorter and winter starts to settle in, it’s normal for students (and teachers!) to feel a little sluggish. In the early years, shorter daylight hours can affect focus, energy, and overall engagement—but there are simple, practical ways to keep your classroom lively and supportive. Here’s how I help students stay on track—whether I’m supporting French and English Kindergarten classrooms or Grade 1: 1. Brighten the Day with Hands-On Activities Hands-on activities are lifesavers in the winter months. Students stay engaged because they can touch, manipulate, and explore materials. Whether it’s tactile math centres, sorting games, or building activities, using bright materials and bilingual instructions helps students remain focused and connected to learning. 2. Keep Transitions Smooth and Predictable Short days can feel even longer if students are unsure of what’s coming next. Clear, visual schedules in both French and English make transitions easier and reduce stress.…

Winter is here, and it’s the perfect time to bring a little seasonal magic into your classroom — without adding extra prep for yourself. Whether you’re teaching in French, English, or both, these hands-on math ideas are simple, fun, and keep students engaged while they build important number skills. 1. Hidden Numbers Winter Math Centre (French & English) This one is always a favourite! Students hunt for hidden numbers in a winter-themed picture, then match or trace the numerals they find. It’s a sneaky way to practice number recognition, fine motor skills, and visual scanning — all while keeping little learners excited and moving. And the best part? It’s ready in both French and English, so you can use the same centre across both language groups without extra prep.👉 Check it out here. 2. Snowball Number Toss Crumple up some white paper into “snowballs,” and write numbers or ten frames…

Remembrance Day is a meaningful time to talk with young learners about peace, gratitude, and kindness. While the concept can feel abstract for Kindergarten and early years students, hands-on activities help them connect in age-appropriate ways. Here are a few simple, engaging ways to honour the day in your classroom—while supporting fine motor development and bilingual learning. 1. Torn Paper Poppy Art Tearing paper might seem simple, but it’s one of the best fine motor activities for little hands. Students strengthen finger muscles while creating beautiful, textured poppies. I like to use red and green construction paper and let students tear small pieces to form the petals and leaves. The result is unique every time—and makes a wonderful classroom display. 2. Handprint Poppy Wreath This craft is always a hit! Students trace and cut out their hands in red paper, then arrange them in a circle to form a wreath.…

October is full of excitement in the classroom, but not every student celebrates Halloween. That’s why I love doing a Pumpkin Party—it’s inclusive, hands-on, and perfect for the end of the month! Here are seven pumpkin-themed activities that build skills while keeping things festive: 1. Pumpkin Bowling Gross motor practice disguised as fun! Line up small pumpkins and let students roll them down like bowling balls. Bonus: add numbers or letters to the pins for an extra learning twist. 2. Exploring the Inside of a Pumpkin Sensory play meets science. Let kids scoop, touch, and sort seeds and pulp while talking about textures, shapes, and even counting seeds. 3. Pumpkin Drawing with Whiteboard Markers Fine motor skills without the mess! Kids can draw designs on mini pumpkins using wipe-off markers. Great for creativity and hand control. 4. Pumpkin Geoboards Stretch those fingers and explore shapes! Kids create designs on pumpkin-shaped…

If you’re teaching in two languages, you already know how quickly prep time can get out of control. Centers are a huge part of building independence in the classroom, but when you’re running both French and English (or another language combo), it can feel like you need two completely different setups. Twice the printing, twice the laminating, twice the organizing. Here’s the good news: it doesn’t have to be that way. You don’t need double the prep to make bilingual centers work. With a few simple shifts, you can set up once and use your centers across both languages. 1. Keep the Structure the Same The best thing you can do is keep your routines and expectations consistent. If students know how to play a math game or complete a literacy activity in English, the only thing that changes in French is the language on the cards or instructions. No…

Halloween in the classroom can be a lot. The excitement, the costumes, the sugar rush—it’s real. That’s why I like to lean into the fun while still keeping activities purposeful (and low-stress for me). One of my favourite ways to do this is with fine motor centres that double as vocabulary practice. It’s the best of both worlds—kids feel like they’re “just playing,” but you know they’re actually building skills that matter. That’s exactly why I created my Fine Motor Halloween Vocabulary Bundle. It’s packed with simple, engaging activities that get kids cutting, tracing, pinching, and colouring—while also practicing seasonal vocabulary in English and French. Here’s what I love most about this bundle: It works in both English and French classrooms (or a mix of both if you’re supporting multiple groups). The activities are flexible—use them in centers, small groups, or even as early-finisher options. They’re festive without being overwhelming…

Fall is the perfect time for hands-on learning, and it’s also a great season to sneak in some fine motor practice. Developing strong fingers, hands, and wrists early on supports writing, drawing, and a ton of other classroom tasks—but it doesn’t have to be complicated or prep-heavy. Here are a few easy, fall-inspired ways to get your students building those skills: 1. Torn Paper Pumpkins or Leaves Tearing paper might seem simple, but it’s powerful for strengthening thumbs, index, and middle fingers. Have students create pumpkins, leaves, or acorns by tearing and gluing coloured paper. Bonus: it’s mostly mess-free and perfect for autumn art displays. 2. Tracing and Colouring Fall Shapes Leaves, acorns, and pinecones are easy shapes for tracing or colouring. Encourage careful lines, gentle pencil pressure, and attention to detail. This supports precision needed for writing. 3. Nature Sorting and Counting Bring the outdoors inside with small sticks,…

Fall is such a fun time of year in the classroom. The changing seasons bring new energy, and students are often excited about all the fall themes—leaves, sunflowers, pumpkins, and more. I love weaving these themes into our learning because it makes the activities feel fresh and engaging while still keeping the focus on key skills. When it comes to math, I keep things simple, hands-on, and meaningful. Here are two of my go-to fall math activities that work well for both whole class and center time. 🌟 1. Fall Hidden Numbers This activity combines seasonal fun with number recognition practice. Students search through fall-themed pictures to find and color hidden numbers. It’s great because: It strengthens number recognition skills. Students practice attention to detail and perseverance. It’s low-prep for teachers—just print and go! I’ve found this one works really well as a quiet independent activity or as part of…

Stepping into a support role this year has completely shifted how I see teaching French in early years classrooms. Instead of leading one class, I’ve been moving between spaces, working with different teachers and learners, and seeing how French instruction actually looks day-to-day. And while it’s been an adjustment (hello, rolling bins and schedule juggling!), it’s also been incredibly eye-opening. Here are five things I’ve learned so far that have changed how I think about teaching French—especially when time is short, confidence is low, or fluency isn’t fluent. 1. Simplicity Is Powerful You don’t need complicated units or flashy routines to teach French well. What I see working best are simple, consistent tools: vocabulary cards, sentence stems, songs with movement, and repeated daily structures. When teachers focus on repetition and clarity (instead of perfection), students thrive—and so do the adults teaching them. 2. Visuals Aren’t a Crutch—They’re Essential In a…

Did you know? Ripping paper is a surprisingly powerful way to build fine motor skills.  When students tear paper, they’re strengthening the same fingers—thumb, index, and middle—that they’ll use for: ✍️ Writing🎨 Drawing📏 Precision-based tasks The best part? It’s easy to incorporate into your classroom, fairly mess-free, and students absolutely love it. How to Use Torn Paper in Your Classroom Sensory bins: Add strips of paper for students to tear and sort by color, size, or texture. Art projects: Encourage students to create collages or seasonal art with torn pieces. Vocabulary activities: Have students tear pieces of paper with words in English and French and match them to images or objects. Themed projects: Pair tearing paper with holidays, seasons, or classroom themes for extra engagement. Even small daily opportunities for tearing, rolling, or crumpling paper can make a big difference in hand strength and coordination Bonus If you’re a fan…